Ships hit by U-boats


Maasdam

Dutch Steam merchant



Maasdam

NameMaasdam
Type:Steam merchant
Tonnage8,812 tons
Completed1921 - NV Mij voor Scheeps-en Werktuigbouw ´Fyenoord´, Rotterdam 
OwnerNederlandsche-Amerikaansche Stoomvaart Mij NV, Rotterdam 
HomeportRotterdam 
Date of attack27 Jun 1941Nationality:      Dutch
 
FateSunk by U-564 (Reinhard Suhren)
Position60° 00'N, 30° 35'W - Grid AK 2432
Complement80 (2 dead and 78 survivors).
ConvoyHX-133
RouteHalifax - Liverpool 
Cargo 
History On 8 Dec 1940, the British Anthea (5186 tons) collided with Maasdam in 48°44N/46°37W and sank. 
Notes on event

At 01.55 hours on 27 June 1941, U-564 (Suhren) fired three single torpedoes in one minute intervals at convoy HX-133 about 300 miles south of Iceland and observed three hits. The Maasdam and Malaya II were sunk and the Kongsgaard was damaged.

The Maasdam (Master J.P. Boshoff) was hit by one torpedo on the port side at #2 hold. Several lifeboats were destroyed, but the most of the 48 crew members and 32 passengers (17 American Red Cross nurses and US Marines under Maj Walter L. Jordan, the advance detail for the Marine Detachment at the American Embassy in London) safely abandoned ship before she sank. Two passengers were lost. 44 survivors, among them nine of 17 American Red Cross nurses, were rescued by the Norwegian motor tanker Havprins and landed at Barry. The remaining survivors were picked up by another Norwegian vessel.

 
On boardWe have details of 80 people who were on board


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